New horse & problems

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sonny310105

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I have recently bought a horse who I knew a lot about, I knew his previous owners and his past history and what he has done and so on, he's super he can jump everything and I bought him to do a bit of eventing on, however he's always extremely tense and seems pissed off when I school him, he's always swishing his tail and has started throwing in a few bronks. I have had a new saddle fitted so that can't be the problem, he is strong and was in a pelham so I changed his bit to something with less poll pressure, still no change, and I am going to get the back lady out next week, however he passed the back check when I had his saddle fitted, I don't have a clue what it could be, whether it could be lack of understanding, pure naughtiness ( he doesn't seem the type ), or some kind of pain some where... he's ok hacking until you ask for canter and he bronks. I spoke to his old owner, they have said he has always been less willing in the school and quite tense but not naughty, and I just wonder if anyone has any suggestions as to what is could be or what I could do as I am completely clueless! Previous owner had his back done often and said it made no change
 
I would wait to see what the physio says( maybe try a different physio and see what they say in comparison) and just do some stretching(like neck stretches and things that will mildly warm him up before jumping on) with him, spend some time with him on the ground,lunge him and just get too know him. Once you have done small steps like that it might be easier to work out by process of elimination as you will actually know the horse. He may have had a bad experience in the school or being ridden in an arena, Good luck :)
 
Is he girthy? How's he like on the ground
If its not his back I'd be thinking there could be a possibility of ulcers
 
he didn't come with a saddle, the person i bought him off rode him in a treeless but i can't use one as i jump/event. the owner before ( the one i know ), i bought their saddle they had on him that was professionally fitted, and i had it re fitted yesterday, so we know it fits!
 
In a situation like this I would call my vet ride the horse and let her see the behaviour .
This type of behaviour usually has a reason letting a vet see it is a good investment .
 
Look at Solution Saddles - if he was out competing previously then he may have been in one of theirs.
 
Several people have told you the saddle fits your horse.

Your horse is telling you he doesn't like it.

It's a bit like shoes, isn't it? You can go into the shoe shop, and they can say "Oh yes, you're size 5, here's a pair of size 5 shoes which fit you fine". You try to walk in them, and you can't :D

Who to believe? I'd try doing all the things you're doing just now, except using the treeless saddle his previous owners rode him in (presumably with no problems) and see what happens :)
 
I am going to ask them to borrow their treeless and see how he goes in it. it's strange though, he's much better out of the school and I know he doesn't enjoy the schooling so he naps a bit, but I've tried him bareback and he's still the same, only time he isn't nappy is when I lunge him. wish horses could talk and tell you the problem!!
 
he is 100% on the ground, great to tack up, handle, doesn't mind anything and always stands for you at the mounting block, and is in great health, no lumps bumps and so on, it's only when you go up a gait he swishes and plays up, but he only ever bronks in canter, put a jump up or take him hacking and he's fine!
 
Second opinion required on the saddle fit. There are threads on here all the time where someone has had a saddle fitted and then later on another saddle fitter checks the saddle and says it doesn't fit and has never fitted. There have been two such threads today
 
sonny310105 said:
I have had a new saddle fitted so that can't be the problem
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Get a second opinion. Don't assume its been fitted well! One of my horses I had a saddle fitted to him when I first bought him and continued to have it checked yearly by the same saddler. The horse started going very oddly, didn't want to go forward etc. so I got a different saddler out and turns out his saddle didn't fit at all, to the point it could never have fitted him (too long in the seat for a start, he's very short backed). I changed saddle and he was immediately happy. What on earth the original saddler was playing at, I dont know! She was fully qualified, even a "master saddler" I think. Same last year, had another saddler out Id never used before and she was awful - I'd told her the pony I was backing wasn't happy in the saddle I was using so needed one which fitted properly, she eventually came to one of her saddles which she felt was "good enough", but that I should maybe "pad" it out with gamgee if he still didn't like it and that I should just try it and see, problem was that the pony was very funny in his back! Next time I got on him, he took off with me and I came off resulting in ripped hip muscles to the point I couldn't walk for days and its still numb! A different saddler checked it and said it was badly fitted, the original girl took the saddle back immediately and gave us a full refund but even so!! So please don't think all saddlers are good, they vary hugely!
 
Great thanks for letting me know. My horse has a very odd back and lacks top line as he has had just a year of playing about and hacking with his previous owners, however with the owners before he was out cross country, jumping 1m40 and so on, so i'm trying to bring him back but of course i can't if he's not happy! i use martin wilkinson if you know him, i had a feel myself of the saddle it sits great on my horse (surprisingly, nothing else has as he is very high withered) and it feels great, nothing tight at all but as you said there may be a problem, he did say because my horse is lacking top line and his spine is quite prominent, it may clench him every time he tenses up when i sit in the saddle. i have put a sheepskin pad to lift it up and all feels fine, but i will see how it goes. hopefully getting an osteopath out next week, and if failing any improvement i will get the vets. such a shame, he's such a great horse just wish i could ride him properly! thanks
 
could you try him bareback and see if you still have the same issue. I got a new horse and he kept feeling like he was trying uncomfortable and about to buck. I had had a saddle fitted, but when i tried him bareback (with a neckstrap!) and he was fine. Got a new saddle and problem was solved!
 
sonny310105 said:
he is 100% on the ground, great to tack up, handle, doesn't mind anything and always stands for you at the mounting block, and is in great health, no lumps bumps and so on, it's only when you go up a gait he swishes and plays up, but he only ever bronks in canter, put a jump up or take him hacking and he's fine!
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So he is fine hacking... And his previous owner has said he doesn't enjoy the school so much? Could it be that he is not liking what he is being asked or how you are riding him? What are you asking him for in the school? Perhaps its too much? I can't remember how long you have had him, but would it be worth taking things down a gear and slowing things down?
 
Def sounds like worth ruling out any possible pain issues. I have seen people reporting that their horse didnt like cantering on a circle and it turns out they had problems with hip or pelvis. Very difficult to see, sometimes a number of different experts can look and not be able to tell. You might want to get a chiropractor as well as a physio to have a look at him. Do hope he comes right for you.
 
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